Holiday Hodgepodge

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

I used to when the boys were young, but now, not so much. Things aren't too busy around here these days. I try to stay out of the stores and concentrate on Advent.

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

I'm coming up with a whole lot of nuttin'.

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

I haven't sent out cards in years. When someone asks me for my address around this time of year, I make sure they know that I don't do cards anymore, so they won't think they've been snubbed. I hate to sound like a Scrooge or Grinch, but I honestly think it's a waste of time and money. 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

Least favorite: Decorating the tree

Most favorite: Candy making

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping Neither
• baking or decorating Baking (see previous answer)
• eggnog or wassail Eggnog (I don't know that I've ever had wassail)
• real tree or artificial Real (see random thought)
• turkey or ham Ham
• white lights or colored lights Either one
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs Ugly sweaters
• peppermint or cinnamon  Peppermint
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

For the first year in a very long time, I have a real tree. 2 years ago, I only put up a couple of tabletop trees; last year I had a 4-ft. artificial one (and it looked very sad!. This year, since OS is in the house, I have a real tree. We put it up (and by "we" I mean OS) and he put the lights on it, but I don't have any ornaments on it yet. When the boys were in school, we waited to decorate until after the State Championship Football Game because things were pretty busy around here. This year, OS was able to go to the tree farm he's worked at and get a tree over Thanksgiving Week. I thought I had pictures from 2023, but either I didn't take any or I deleted them. 

The sad little tree of 2024

2025 Tree